Working on a new diorama. The two US soldiers are checking out the abandonned JagdTiger to see if they kan find some nice trophies to bring back home.

The base is soon completed. I'm considering using a telegraph plole in the upper left corner to give addittional height to the diorama. Some drybrushing and wases will also be applied to the base.

The JagdTiger is ready for painting and weathering.
The Zundapp is getting close to complete. Just needs some weathering.

First shots (I'm sorry about the poor quality of the photos.)


This is the current state of the project. The elements missing in the photos are belts on the Jagdtiger, the Zundapp MC and the figures.




The base without the vehicles.




Henrik

Interesting. The components all look good. Great techniques.

I'm not sure of the story of how the JagdTiger got where it is. From the first photo I thought that it got pushed out of the way from behind (tracks lead me to that thought). The second one leads me to think it got pushed sideways (no tracks). The third one leads me to believe it was driven backwards. The broken curb, broken in just one spot tells me that the weight of the Jagd broke it. With no other broken spots, there is no other way.
I hope that makes sense.
Maybe if you put a burned out wagon and some other debris that would be discarded or pushed out of the way.

Absolutely Stunning groundwork.
I love your diorama.
Really.

Can't wait to see progress.
Congrats.
Alexandre.

Hi Henrik

As has already been said, superb groundwork. I think what you've shown looks brilliant and can't wait to see the progress shots. If the figures and the Jagdtiger are finished to the same standard as the ground work this will be outstanding.

I wouldn't worry too much about including a telegraph pole, it's a bit of a overused clique in dioramas in my opinion. I would consider another figure maybe on the rear engine deck to balance the figures out in the composition but that's only a personal choice not a criticism in any way.

Look forward to updates.

Alan

Great groundwork. I agree with Alan a third figure up on the engine deck would really add to the composition.

VERY good groundwork! Congrats

Thank you for your comments! Most appreciated.

The idea of another figure standing on the engine deck is interesting.

Henrik

Very good stuff.
Are you using only natural material ?
Do you paint them ?
Best,
Julien

Yes, i agree defintely, very realistic groundwork. Very well balanced colors, not to dark, just right.



Claude

Julien, the groundwork is made from the following materials.

Sculptamold mixed with plaster, brown acrylics and white clue.
I made some plaster lumps and mixed that into the sculptamold to add texture.
AfteThe sculptamold was spread on the surface, I sprinkled flower dirt and sand.
The roots are actuall roots. They were preserved with glyserol.
The "green stuff" is made from Heki Wildgrass (railway stuff) and natural moss which is preserved with glyserol so it stays soft.
The leaves are from PlusModel.
The branches are natural.
Nothing is painted except the green stuff. I try to precolor all the stuff I use, to obtain a variety of colors.

Hope this answers your question!

Henrik

Nice work!

A very well composed diorama and excellent groundwork. I'm inspired for my future projects, Thank you!

James

Henrik ,

Ditto to those who have gone before, great ground work . I am inspired

Best

Jerry

Thanks Henrik !
Do you know where I can get sculptamod ? Is ti a kind of plaster or is it more a paste ?
And what's the glycerol, I guess it's for preserving natural stuff for the time passing by, but could you explain how you use it ?
I hope I don't bother you with my questions.
Best,
julien

Hi,

I'm happy to answer your questions.

Sculptamold is made by an American company called Amaco (www.amaco.com). You can buy it from www.dickblick.com and other stores. I know that DickBlick ships to Europe. Sculptamold is a papermache which looks great in scale when it dries. I think there is a bit of plaster in there as well.

You can read more about glycerol here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol
You actually just soak the moss and roots in glycerol for 24-48 hours. Then you take it out, and leave it to dry for a couple of days. Put the moss/roots between some kitchen paper. That will remove much of the glyserol. After this treatment it will keep soft, but it is not sticky. It feels just natural.. You can paint it with Vallejos, Tamiya paint or something like that. The glycerol tends to remove some of the color from the moss, so it's best to paint it before using it.

Hope this answers your questions. Don't be afraid to ask.

Henrik

Wow, I do like yoyr groundwork. Really good job you did.

nice, look forward to seeing this one complete

Henrik,

That's very nice of your part to explain your technique.
I do really appreciate. That's short but very concrete explanation.
Mange Takk
I'm looking forward for any update on this one

Julien

Absolutely stunning groundwork.

Maybe you could also post pictures step by step on how u did your ground work (for your next diorama, maybe). I think we all would love to see it.

There has been some progress on the Jagdtiger lately, and this is the state of the project right now.
I've started painting the figures, but I'm really not so experienced with figure painting, so it will take some time.

I was planning to use a telegraph pole in the upper left corner, but I just don't think it looks right.











Your comments are appreciated.

Henrik

Hi

As I said before and the continuation you've done, all looks great.

You certainly get the feeling of this heavy monster lurching into the dip to its final resting place. The track marks and depressions in the groundwork look spot on. The barrel end colliding into the ground is a nice detail.

I think the motorcycle, and I'm assuming its the wonderful LionRoar/Great Wall kit, looks excellent and makes a nice contrast to the size of the Jagdtiger.

I hope you reconsider using just the two figures you previously showed and position a third on the engine deck as I think this will "balance" the composition nicely.

Great. I only hope I can get this good one day.

Thanks for showing.

Alan

Great motorcycle. The trailer makes this work. I've never seen a motorcycle pulling a trailer in a diorama so thats a huge bonus.

If you could get a figure in a nice climbing pose with a look towards an opening it would give a nice sence of the start of hunting for the tropheys in looking to gain a way in and giving a feel of the size of the beast against a figure.

Love the dio and ground works.

Nige

Yo Norseman,

Great groundwork...very realistic, spot on! The Road is just amazing, what did you use?

The tank and the motorcycle are olso very nice done...


Yes, add the pole, will give a nice hight in your diorama.

Good work!

Greetz Nico

Looks great, the ground work is superb. Thanks for explaing your technique for preserving. Can't wait to see the finished product.
Tom

I'm done!
This has been a fun project for me. Learned a lot of new stuff.













More pictures on http://public.fotki.com/Melvold/packrats/ if you are interested.

Henrik